ASU FOOTBALL: Rams open artificial-turf field on campus

Andrew Mitchell/Standard-Times
Angelo State University football players warm up before their practice at the LeGrand Sports Complex last week. The field was replaced with artificial turf and completed earlier this month. Next season the field will be the site of ASU’s first on-campus home football game in 60 years.

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Thanks to the generosity of the 1st Community Federal Credit Union, the San Angelo Health Foundation, ASU Alumni Larry Clark and an anonymous donor, Angelo State University can look forward to a bright, new future with its new artificial turf at the LeGrand Sports Complex.

The $1.2 million 1st Community Credit Union Field was officially unveiled at a ribbon-cutting on Monday.

Chancellor Kent Hance of the Texas Tech University System was at the ceremony, along with ASU officials.

“When a project like this comes together, it’s exciting not just for our student-athletes and our coaches and our staff, but certainly people in the community,” ASU Director of Athletics Sean Johnson said. “I think it was a reflection on how important of an event this was to see the number of people and the kind of people who were at the event. It was really gratifying.”

ASU football coach Will Wagner said the new artificial surface will be beneficial to all sports on campus.

“They’re doing everything they can to improve the facilities that are already great as they are now,” Wagner said. “And I think it also shows the kind of support we have from the community because it’s all privately raised. It’s going to be a big selling point for us.”

The Rams will play at least one football game a season on their new field, beginning with a Sept. 13, 2014, game against Western State (Colo.).

“It’ll be 60 years since we played a home game on campus,” Johnson said. “We’re really thrilled about that. To be able to bring football back to campus I think is a really big deal for us.”

ASU President Brian J. May said the long-term goal is to eventually have all Rams home football games at 1st Community Credit Union Field.

Until that point, the rest of the home games will continue to be at San Angelo Stadium, the home of the Central and Lake View high school teams.

“We’re certainly in great shape with San Angelo Stadium, because that’s a fine facility as well,” May said. “If we could have more games on campus with our field, it’s something we’re looking forward to but it could be a ways down the road, that’s for sure.”

Wagner said having some home games at the new stadium will be exciting for everyone involved.

“We can just walk out our door and we’re right there on the game field,” Wagner said. “Hopefully it’ll be exciting for our students and everyone involved with Angelo State University that our games are back on campus.

“I think we’ll have more pride and more ownership by having stuff here on campus. Having the Junell Center as a backdrop to it makes even more special.”

Because of the drought situation in San Angelo, May said it was imperative to switch to an artificial surface.

“Our practice fields have just gotten in such poor shape because we can’t water them,” May said. “And it looks like the situation is going to continue to be bad for quite some time.”

A new Matrix Turf Field and epiQ TRACKS track system were installed by Hellas Construction, Inc. A new shot put ring and high jump apron also were installed, in addition to the pole vault and long/triple jump runways being moved to the perimeters of the track. The javelin runway was moved to the upper practice field.

The $1.2 million project will have a great impact on recruiting in all sports.

“The biggest impact that it’s going to make is on our student-athletes and that’s the most-important thing,” Johnson said. “If they didn’t think it was a good idea, or if they didn’t love the fact that we’re going to be playing on campus, we wouldn’t do it.

“But I know how they feel about it. They’re getting a chance to practice on a beautiful field on our own campus. They’re just real excited about it. That’s the best part about this whole project is seeing their reaction to it.”